Friday, April 9, 2010

Horses and Camels

Committees take a lot of hits in our culture and on the internet. Consider the following edited search results:

For some strange reason, we seem to hate the very concept that somewhere out there, there might actually be committees that are not evil.

A committee is a cul-de-sac into which ideas are lured and then strangled.

and, of course..

A horse designed by a committee is a camel.

It is not hard to see why some committees try to disguise themselves as “task forces” or “working groups” or “task groups” of “project teams” or “commissions” or “functional groupings” or “ad-hoc planning teams.”

Sometimes, however, committees must be given credit for accomplishing the tasks they were created to perform. The UIC Campus Master Plan committees are great examples of such groups. The Executive Committee, the Steering Committee, the Advisory Committee and the Core Planning Team have met regularly over the past year and a half to keep the planning process (and the consultants) on track and on schedule. Officially, their work will come to a successful conclusion next month when the University’s Board of Trustees considers the proposed Campus Master Plan.

These (dare I use the word? Yes, I dare!) COMMITTEES and their members have helped the campus create a framework for the transformation of how the campus will look in the next forty or so years and they are deserving of our praise and adulation.

Members, you know who you are. Take a bow.

On behalf of the campus, THANK YOU.

Question of the Week: Will the Board of Trustees approve the UIC Campus Master Plan?

Until next Friday…Actually, this is the last blog. It’s been a hoot. Thanks for reading these ramblings. Take care of yourselves and your/our campus.

Thanks from another follower -- who was hesitant to post non-anonymously.

All I would add: I hope we reconsider putting pine trees everywhere. Pine trees create acid soil which means no grass (just dirt). And pine needles poke me in the behind when I sit on them. Dirt and pokey pine needles won't help anyone enjoy the nice grassy quads we are considering having!